Perennial Legume Research Articles

Competition for Light Affects Alfalfa Biomass Production More Than Its Nutritive Value in an Olive-Based Alley-Cropping System

Cropping among trees with perennial legumes is one option for increasing agro-ecosystem services, such as improving the nitrogen supply and increasing soil protection by herbaceous vegetation. Moreover, cropping under the canopy of olive trees should diversify the farm production, compared to the traditional fallow management. Among perennial legumes, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) produces abundant biomass under Mediterranean rainfed condition. Based on this, a two-year field experiment was implemented in southern Tuscany in a rainfed olive orchard to test the competition for light effects on alfalfa biomass production and nutritive value. Light availability under the tree canopy was measured by hemispherical photos. In both years, the alfalfa yield of under-canopy varied according to the tree presence. A significant relationship between biomass production and light availability was recorded. The nutritive value of under-canopy alfalfa was similar to that of the open-grown alfalfa. However, same significant differences did however occur, between shaded and sole crop. When differences were found, under-canopy herbage was characterised by a higher content of crude protein and a lower content of fibre with respect to open-grown. In a hilly silvoarable olive orchard, alfalfa biomass accumulation was reduced mainly due to scarce light availability, therefore tree management such as pruning and plantation layout can enhance the herbage productivity. Studying shade tolerant forage legumes in order to enhance the yield and nutritive value of herbage production in rainfed agroforestry systems is essential.

Trends of the energy and protein value of hylage from legumes in the Republic of Tatarstan

The results of the analysis of the dynamics of energy and protein nutritional value of haylage from perennial legumes harvested from plant raw materials in the territory of the Republic of Tatarstan in the period from 1993 to 2018 are described. The long-term average value of the studied indicator was 9.52 MJ / kg, which is 5.54% higher than the norm. The highest content of exchangeable energy was noted in 1996 - 9.67 MJ / kg, which is 1.58% higher than the long-term average. The lowest content of exchangeable energy was established in 2009 (9.36 MJ / kg). The long-term average value of the net energy level of lactation was 1.96 MJ / kg, which is 9.68% higher than the norm. The maximum was observed in 2017 and amounted to 2.17 MJ / kg, and the minimum - in 2001 (1.65 MJ / kg), when it was 23.97% below the norm. It was found that the average long-term value of the level of digestible protein in haylage was 111.31 g / kg, which is 1.78% higher than the norm. The highest content of digestible protein was found in 2010 (17.21%). The smallest value was recorded a year earlier, in 2009 and amounted to 95.64 g / kg, which, respectively, is lower than the average long-term value and the value of the norm by 14.08 and 12.56%, respectively.

Technological techniques that improve the siloing conditions of perennial leguminous herbs

Perennial leguminous herbs due to their technological and ecological role in modern agriculture, taking into account the economic benefits of their use for fodder purposes, are priority raw materials for the procurement of high-quality bulky feed at the present stage of development of agricultural production in Russia. However, in the early stages of its development and at the maximum concentration of energy and nutrients in the dry substance, such raw materials slowly dry and are poorly siloed due to high moisture content. Weak drying optimizes the moisture silage of raw materials, but cannot guarantee a reliable result of preservation due to the low sugar content. Preservation of such raw materials with chemical and biological preparations can improve the result. The purpose of our development was to test biological preparations with cellulose-lytic properties, such as bacillusspecies, Aliciclobacillus acidocaldaris and Aeromonas species, to improve the quality of fermentation of perennial legumes–meadow clover. In a short-term (three-day) reconnaissance experiment, these preparations stimulated an increase in total acid formation, including lactic acid synthesis, and provided acidification of the mass to optimal limits (pH = 4.0-4.2). In a medium-term experience (three months) in the silage of freshly dried raw materials, such abilities were shown by the lactic acid starter Biosil NH, the best of the cellulose-lytic preparations when preserving the dried mass was B.species. In experiments good results were also obtained from the use of A.species. Researchers have shown the value of using of weak drying and biological products to obtain stable silage from clover meadow.

Impact of Ambient and Elevated [CO2] in Low Light Levels on Growth, Physiology and Nutrient Uptake of Tropical Perennial Legume Cover Crops.

At early stages of establishment of tropical plantation crops, inclusion of legume cover crops could reduce soil degradation due to erosion and nutrient leaching. As understory plants these cover crops receive limited irradiance and can be subjected to elevated CO2 at ground level. A glasshouse experiment was undertaken to assess the effects of ambient (450 µmol mol−1) and elevated (700 µmol mol−1) levels of [CO2] on growth, physiological changes and nutrient uptake of six perennial legume cover crops (Perennial Peanut, Ea-Ea, Mucuna, Pigeon pea, Lab lab, Cowpea) under low levels of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD; 100, 200, and 400 µmol m−2 s−1). Overall, total and root dry biomass, total root length, specific leaf area, and relative growth rates were significantly influenced by levels of [CO2] and PPFD and cover crop species. With few exceptions, all the cover crops showed significant effects of [CO2], PPFD, and species on net photosynthesis (PN) and its components, such as stomatal conductance (gs) internal CO2 conc. (Ci), and transpiration (E). Increasing [CO2], from 450 to 700 μmol mol−1 and increasing PPFD from 100 to 400 μmol ּm−2 ּs−1 increased PN. Overall, the levels of [CO2], PPFD and species significantly affected total water use efficiency (WUETOTAL), instantaneous water use efficiency (WUEINST) and intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEINTR). With some exceptions, increasing levels of [CO2] and PPFD increased all the WUE parameters. Interspecific differences were observed with respect to macro-micro nutrient uptake and use efficiency. With a few exceptions, increasing levels of [CO2] from 450 to 700 μmol mol−1 and PPFD from 100 to 400 μmol m−2 s−1 increased nutrient use efficiency (NUE) of all nutrients by cover crop species.

NUTRITIVE EVALUATION OF TWO CULTIVARS OF STYLOSANTHES GUYANENSIS

Two introduced cultivars of stylosanthes guyanensis were evaluated in feeding and metabolism trials with Yankasa rams and wethers. The Perennial legume species were established in July, 1975 from seeds brought from Queensland, Australia. Digestibility, intake, liveweight gains and nitrogen utilization were determined. The legumes were found to give satisfactory animal performance that is comparable, if not superior, to other varieties of stylo earlier in use on the station

Identification and characterization of regulatory pathways involved in early flowering in the new leaves of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) by transcriptome analysis

BackgroundAlfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial legume extensively planted throughout the world as a high nutritive value livestock forage. Flowering time is an important agronomic trait that contributes to the production of alfalfa hay and seeds. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of flowering time regulation in alfalfa are not well understood.ResultsIn this study, an early-flowering alfalfa genotype 80 and a late-flowering alfalfa genotype 195 were characterized for the flowering phenotype. Our analysis revealed that the lower jasmonate (JA) content in new leaves and the downregulation of JA biosynthetic genes (i.e. lipoxygenase, the 12-oxophytodienoate reductase-like protein, and salicylic acid carboxyl methyltransferase) may play essential roles in the early-flowering phenotype of genotype 80. Further research indicated that genes encode pathogenesis-related proteins [e.g. leucine rich repeat (LRR) family proteins, receptor-like proteins, and toll-interleukin-like receptor (TIR)-nucleotide-binding site (NBS)-LRR class proteins] and members of the signaling receptor kinase family [LRR proteins, kinases domain of unknown function 26 (DUF26) and wheat leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase10 (LRK10)-like kinases] are related to early flowering in alfalfa. Additionally, those involved in secondary metabolism (2-oxoglutarate/Fe (II)-dependent dioxygenases and UDP-glycosyltransferase) and the proteasome degradation pathway [really interesting new gene (RING)/U-box superfamily proteins and F-box family proteins] are also related to early flowering in alfalfa.ConclusionsIntegrated phenotypical, physiological, and transcriptomic analyses demonstrate that hormone biosynthesis and signaling pathways, pathogenesis-related genes, signaling receptor kinase family genes, secondary metabolism genes, and proteasome degradation pathway genes are responsible for the early flowering phenotype in alfalfa. This will provide new insights into future studies of flowering time in alfalfa and inform genetic improvement strategies for optimizing this important trait.

Cross-host compatibility of commercial rhizobial strains for new and existing pasture legume cultivars in south-eastern Australia

Perennial legumes have potential to increase pasture productivity in the high rainfall zone (600–850 mm) of south-eastern Australia through their ability to use summer rainfall and fix nitrogen (N2). Various perennial legumes are being evaluated for this environment; however, little information exists on legume–rhizobia cross-host compatibility and its consequences for biological N2 fixation. This is especially important when legumes are sown into fields with a background of competitive rhizobia such as WSM1325 or sown as a pasture mix with different host–symbiont pairs. We studied the effectiveness and cross-host compatibility of five commercial rhizobial strains for a range of pasture legumes (nine species, 18 cultivars) under controlled environment conditions, and further evaluated nodule occupancy and competitiveness of a newly established pasture (13 species, 20 cultivars) in the field, by determining nodulation and production (biomass and N2 fixation). Three of the commercial inoculant strains formed root nodules with multiple legume species; commonly however, less N2 was fixed in cases where the inoculant was not the recommended strain for the legume species. Within a legume species, cultivars could differ in their ability to form effective root nodules with multiple rhizobial strains. White clover cvv. Trophy, Haifa and Storm, strawberry clover cv. Palestine, and Talish clover cv. Permatas formed effective nodules with both TA1 and WSM1325 rhizobial strains. White clover cultivars that could not form an effective symbiosis with the common background strain WSM1325 fixed less N2. The white clover × Caucasian clover hybrid formed effective symbiosis with strain TA1 but not with other commercial strains. Some species such as birdsfoot trefoil, Talish clover, sulfur clover and tetraploid Caucasian clover formed ineffective symbiosis in the field. Until resolved, this will likely inhibit their further development as pasture plants for similar permanent pasture environments.

Technological solutions for the cultivation of potatoes in the organic farming agroecosystem

One of the main tasks of organic production of agricultural products is to reduce the load on agroecosystems while simultaneously obtaining a yield indicator of high consumer quality, as with intensive production technologies, and this can be attained only through the fuller use of the biological potential of a crop, species, variety. In the production of agricultural products using biologized machine technologies, they interact with the environment: the atmosphere, hydrosphere and soil. The research is aimed to the creation of adaptive biologized machine technologies that ensure the efficient use of natural resources in the production of agricultural products with a minimum impact on the environment. The research object is the potato agrocenosis in the crop rotation of tilled and field crops. The crop rotation includes potatoes, beets, perennial legumes and cereals. In the experiment, potatoes of the Udacha variety (superelite), zoned for the Leningrad region, were cultivated. Particular attention was paid to the assessment of possible environmental risks in the implementation of the selected technological solutions for growing potatoes, as well as the fight against weeds, since the use of synthetic herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, etc. radically contradicts GOST 33980 - 2016 “Organic products. Rules for production, processing, labeling and sale”.

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Tropical perennial grasses are an important forage option in the frost prone, summer dominant rainfall zone in eastern Australia. These pastures commonly lack a companion legume and are, at best, irregularly fertilised with nitrogen; therefore, their production potential is not realised. We conducted a study during 2012–16 to evaluate the productivity and persistence of a range of cultivars/lines of eight tropical and two temperate perennial legumes in mixes with digit grass (Digitaria eriantha cv. Premier) at two sites (Bingara and Manilla) in the northern inland region (North-West Slopes) of New South Wales. The sites were subjected to dry conditions during the assessment period, with the Bingara site receiving <25th percentile rainfall for 2 years of the study. Lucerne (Medicago sativa) was the most productive companion legume, with mixes producing 16–18 and 38–46 t dry matter (DM)/ha at the Bingara and Manilla sites respectively. Cultivars of Desmanthus spp. were less productive, with the best performing in mixes producing 13 and 21–23 t DM/ha at Bingara and Manilla respectively. These cultivars were also persistent and readily recruited new seedlings. Their persistence was similar or superior to lucerne, which appeared to be declining, especially at the Manilla site. Mixes of burgundy bean (Macroptilium bracteatum) and digit grass produced 14–17 t DM/ha at the sites but DM tended to decline during the course of the experiment, especially at the Manilla site. Stylosanthes spp. and Chamaecrista rotundifolia had poor persistence, generally failing within 1–2 years of sowing. Therefore, we recommend lucerne and Desmanthus virgatus cvv. Marc and JCU 2 as suitable perennial legumes in mixes with digit grass during drought conditions.

Comparison of plant feedstocks and methods to recover leaf proteins from wet fractionation of alfalfa for potential use in aquaculture, poultry, and livestock feeds

AbstractAlternative plant‐based protein sources are needed for supplementing or replacing fishmeal in formulated animal feeds. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), a perennial legume, is grown worldwide as a high‐protein forage crop used primarily for dairy and beef cattle feeds. However, its utility as a protein source for feeding other farmed animals has great potential. Wet fractionation can provide several products that increase the value of the crop. The amount of alfalfa protein concentrate (APC) recovered from a fresh press filtrate was measured from several feedstocks: herbage of a nonlodging biomass‐type alfalfa, genetically modified reduced‐lignin alfalfa, and conventional alfalfa as well as from leaves of the biomass type fractionated at harvest. Additionally, five methods for APC recovery were compared. Approximately 854 kg of APC, 7,109 kg of press residue suitable as low quality animal feed, and 4.5 Tg of dry hay could be produced annually from a hectare of biomass‐type alfalfa. The amounts of APC recovered from a reduced‐lignin alfalfa and a conventional cultivar were similar. Acid‐based precipitation methods resulted in the largest recovery of APC, whereas heating produced the highest concentration of protein in the concentrate and highest concentration of methionine, lysine, and threonine. The percentage of fatty acids and sugars in the concentrate varied significantly by precipitation method. All methods resulted in low amounts of fiber in the concentrate. Our results indicate that a nonlodging biomass‐type alfalfa can produce high yields of APC and co‐products with fewer harvests than a conventional cultivar, which reduces costs and promotes crop productivity.

ДЛИТЕЛЬНОСТЬ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ СЕМЕННЫХ ТРАВОСТОЕВ МНОГОЛЕТНИХ БОБОВЫХ ТРАВ

Seed productivity of perennial leguminous grasses is subject to sharp fluctuations due to their biological characteristics, different reactions to changes in growing conditions, and meteorological factors over the growing season. In this case, the productive longevity of herbs is of great importance. The research aims to analyze the seed productivity and the duration of using the grassstand of perennial legume grasses in the meteorological conditions of the Middle Pre-Urals. The analysis of seed yield, energy, and economic efficiency of long-term use of perennial leguminous grasses was carried out based on a result of studies laid down in the Udmurt Research Institute of Agriculture of the UdmFRC of the UB RAS in 1996–2005 with the eastern Galega variety Gale, in 2011–2015 – with varieties of red clover and variegated alfalfa, in 2011–2016 – with birds-foot trefoil variety Solnyshko. The research found that red clover sowing is best used for seeds for one year. In the first year of use, the yield of double-cut clover varieties was 146 kg/ha, of single-cut varieties – 138 kg/ha. In the second year of using the grass stand, the yield significantly decreased to 37 and 39 kg/ha. The yield of 162 kg/ha at the standard level was formed by the twocut clover variety Dymkovsky. Crops of variegated alfalfa can be used for seeds for two years. Seed productivity of variegated alfalfa varieties in the 1st year of use was 204 kg/ha, in the 2nd year of use – 260 kg/ha. Alfalfa of the Guzel variety formed a significantly high seed yield of 251 kg/ha. The recommended duration of the use of the birds-foot trefoil grass-stand is two to three years. In the 1st and 2nd years of use of the grass stand, the yield of the seeds was relatively high, 215–378 and 213–349 kg/ha, respectively. By the 3rd year of use, it decreased to 89–161 kg/ha. The old-age grass stand of the 4th year of use did not form seeds. Sowing the birds-foot trefoil without a cover or under cover of spring wheat by the usual row method with a seeding rate of 8–9 million units/ha showed the highest seed yield of 255–270 kg/ha. The duration of the use of the eastern Galega grass-stand is up to 10 years or more. The highest yield of Galega seeds of 510 kg/ha was obtained during the harvesting of grass in the first year of use for feed, in the second – fifth year of use – for seeds, from the 6th year of use – for feed.

ОЦЕНКА СОРТОВ КЛЕВЕРА ПО АГРОБИОЛОГИЧЕСКИМ И ХОЗЯЙСТВЕННО-ЦЕННЫМ ПРИЗНАКАМ

In intensifying fodder production, highly productive, high-protein and environmentally stable varieties of fodder crops are of fundamental importance. In this task, the main role is given to perennial legumes, among which clover occupies a priority. Clover is one of the leading fodder crops in many regions of Russia. In particular, in the North Caucasus, clover is of great importance in field and meadow fodder production. On hayfields and pastures of mountain slopes, this culture is used as a high-protein component in agro- and phytocenosis. The role of clover as a cheap source of protein for animals and an excellent precursor in the crop rotation link is well known. Its agrotechnical significance is also great: thanks to the nibble bacteria settling on the roots of clover, it is able to absorb atmospheric nitrogen. Clover roots penetrate deep into the ground, loosen soil layers, extracting nutrients difficult to access to other plants, enrich the soil with an organic substance, improve its structure, physical qualities, fix the arable layer and protect it from water and wind erosion. Due to the widespread use of this crop, there are increasingly high requirements for varieties cultivated in agrocenoses: increasing agrobiological and chemical-technological properties, improving soil fertility. To create highly effective pastures and hayfields, long-term and productive varieties of clover with high nutritional properties, salinity, resistance to diseases, trampling and mowing are required. The expansion of meadow clover crops is a priority area for the development of adaptive fodder production in North Ossetia, and especially in modern conditions, it is important to breed and evaluate its varieties. Meadow clover varieties are relatively resistant to adverse conditions and have high seed productivity. It is these requirements that meet the clover varieties "Dargavs," "Nart," "Mountain Saniba" and "Daryal." In order to identify clover varieties that are promising in the conditions of North Ossetia, on the basis of the North Caucasus Institute of Mining and Foothill Agriculture in the village. Mikhailovsky conducted research on their assessment of agrobiological and economic-valuable features. It was established that the variety "Mountain Saniba" stood out for the content of raw protein in dry matter, affinity, collection of dry matter per hectare. All studied varieties are adapted to the conditions of the foothill zone of North Ossetia, since they are winter straps. The growing season of the studied varieties varied on average 52-44 days by year, which is optimal for fodder harvesting in our region.

The challenges of developing resilient perennial pastures for a Mediterranean environment – a review for Western Australia

Perennial pastures are the dominant feedbase in many regions of the world, and offer several advantages when compared with an annual pasture system. In Western Australia (WA) there has been a concerted effort over seven decades to develop new perennial pasture options and expand the adoption of suitable species. The agricultural region of WA (i.e. south-western Australia) is characterised by a Mediterranean climate where the 5–7 month summer drought has proved a considerable challenge with only a small number of the many promising species being adopted commercially. Research, development, and extension have covered a wide range of herbaceous perennial legumes, leguminous and native shrubs, herbs, and temperate and warm season grasses. This paper reviews the literature to determine whether a perennial pasture must satisfy the following criteria to be successful and widely adopted in south-western Australia: (i) sourced from a similar Mediterranean environment and adapted to the target soils; (ii) have a relative advantage over the annual-based system it replaces; (iii) a robust management package; and (iv) a viable seed supply. The findings of this review highlight that perennial pastures must indeed satisfy multiple criteria to be commercially successful. Notably, the requirement for the source of the germplasm to have a good match between climate and soils is less clear because some of the commercially successful species come from diverse environments. We conclude with some key learnings for future perennial pasture development as climate change intensifies the research challenge and the drive for producers to adapt.

Differences in dehydration tolerance affect survival of white clover (

There is very little robust, experimentally based knowledge comparing drought tolerance of one legume species with another. Dehydration tolerance and plant survival of the perennial legumes white clover (Trifolium repens L., considered quite sensitive to drought) and lucerne (Medicago sativa L., considered drought tolerant) were compared in a drying cycle experiment conducted in pots in a glasshouse, with the deep rooting of lucerne constrained. White clover used more soil water, drying the pots to a final soil gravimetric water content (θg) of 4.7%, compared with 8.3% in lucerne pots. Rates of water use were also different: white clover used 0.47% of θg per day and lucerne 0.3%. The more conservative water use allowed lucerne to survive for longer into the drying cycle than white clover. Lucerne partitioned more of its total dry matter into root growth and had much higher root:shoot ratios than white clover. Leaf/stolon elongation is one of the first plant processes to cease as water deficit increases; however, elongation was greater in white clover than lucerne at the beginning of the drying cycle, and this trend continued until lower soil water contents were reached. Conversely, leaf senescence generally commenced at quite high levels of water stress and progressed more rapidly to complete senescence in white clover than in lucerne. Lucerne retained tissue relative water content at a higher level than white clover, with final minimum values of 25% and 13.6%, respectively. In lucerne, 50% mortality was observed at θg of 9%, compared with 6% in white clover, albeit with greater variability. In conclusion, lucerne maintained a higher relative water content than white clover even though it endured the drying cycle for longer and without access to water at depth, evidence of its superior dehydration avoidance and better adaptation to dry conditions. However, white clover was more able to extract water from surface soil layers. This study provides valuable insight into the adaptive traits of both species and identifies some traits that might be useful in the quest to improve white clover adaptation.

Influence of forage crop rotations on crop yields and phytosanitary conditions of soils in the Baikal region

The article considers the practical aspects of ensuring the preservation of natural ecosystems based on the use of organic farming technologies. It presents the results of research in the forest-steppe zone of the Baikal region for 2011-2018. On the basis of the phytosanitary state of crops studying analysis, it was found that the correct alternation of crops in crop rotation suppresses the level of weeds, thereby not affecting the productivity of agricultural crops. The paper reveals the characteristics of agrophysical and water properties of gray forest soil, the influence of forage crop rotations with meadow clover on the yield of cultivated crops. According to the research results, the authors found that overseeding of legumes in the fields of forage crop rotations increases the average productivity by 16.6% in comparison with the control option. The influence of the aftereffect of perennial legumes in crop rotations increases the yield of grain fodder and silage crops by 20-31.8%. The crop rotation with two fields of meadow clover (crop rotation No. 3) was determined to be the best for all indicators.

Three cultivars of Lablab purpureus foliage in Igbo-Ora, Oyo State, Nigeria are nutritive

Lablab purpureusis a perennial legume, is a valuable feed resource for livestock production. The foliage of three cultivars of Lablab purpureus (Tln-43, Tln-49 and Tln-51) were evaluated for their proximate, minerals compositions and anti- nutritional factors in a completely randomized block design experiment. Results showed significant differences among cultivars in (P<0.05) crude protein (16.97%), ether extract (5.9%EE) crude fat (27.37%CF), ash (9.98%) and drymatter (72.44%) contents. Similarly,minerals contents of phosphorus (0.37%P), potassium 0.89%K), calcium (0.26%Ca), magnesium (0.29%Mg), iron (192.60mg/kg Fe), and Zinc (55.28mg/kg Zn) were influenced by cultivars Lablab purpureus The values of anti-nutritional factors in the three cultivars of Lablab purpureus leaves ranged from 0.44 to 0.73% for Saponin, Oxalate (0.40-0.53%), Phytate(0.62 to 0.85%), tannin(0.04-0.06%), trypsin inhibitor (20.24-21.78mg/g)and HCN (1.65- 2.37mg/g). It was concluded from this study that, nutrient contents, anti-nutrient factors as well as mineral contents were influenced by cultivars of purpureus, though their antinutrients contents cannot poses any deleterious effect to ruminant animal's feed and feeding regime.

ECONOMIC AND ENERGY EVALUATION OF THE ELEMENTS OF GROWING TECHNOLOGY OF DIFFERENT SPECIES OF SAINFOIN IN THE RIGHT-BANK FOREST-STEPPE

The results of the research on economic and bioenergetic evaluation of different types of sainfoin growing depending on fertilizer, grass mowing height, seed inoculation and years of use were presented. Sainfoin is one of the most productive legumes with a high protein content, the green mass of which exceeds both cereals and some perennial legumes by the protein content. However, despite the significant advantages of sainfoin, the areas under this crop remain insignificant, especially in the Forest-Steppe zone. One of the reasons for this state is the undeveloped zonal technology of growing of different varieties of sainfoin with their economic and energy evaluation. Research methodology. Experimental studies were conducted during 2016–2018 at the research site of the SS of NULES of Ukraine “Agronomic Research Station” located in Pshenychne village of Vasylkiv district of Kyiv region. Scheme of the experiment: Factor A. Varieties of sainfoin (Common (Ametyst Donetsky variety); Transcaucasian (Adam variety); Hungarian (Smaragd variety). Factor B. Fertilizers, inoculation (without fertilizers and inoculation; N45Р60К90 + seeds inoculation with rhizotorphine; Р60К90 + seeds inoculation with rhizotorphine). Factor C. The height of grass mowing (5, 10, 15 cm). Method of sowing – by row, spring coverless. Rhizotorphine was used for inoculation. Conclusions. It was found that the highest conditionally net profit and the lowest prime cost of fodder unit and crude protein were obtained under common sainfoin growing, economic indicators of growing of Transcaucasian sainfoin and Hungarian sainfoin were much lower than the aforementioned. The highest energy efficiency coefficient and the lowest energy costs for growing of 1 ton of fodder units were obtained on the sowings of common sainfoin of Ametyst Donetsky variety.

ЗИМОСТІЙКІСТЬ РОСЛИН ПШЕНИЦІ ОЗИМОЇ ЗАЛЕЖНО ВІД ПОПЕРЕДНИКІВ БОБОВИХ БАГАТОРІЧНИХ ТРАВ

The article is devoted to solving the problem of increasing the winter hardiness of winter wheat crops when it is grown after the predecessors of six types of perennial legumes. The features of the passage of the growth and development phases of winter wheat plants in the autumn, depending on the predecessors, are shown. The dynamics of plant height in the autumn-spring period is analyzed. The change in the density of winter wheat plants during the period of full germination and during the spring renewal of vegetation was studied. The winter cutting of winter wheat plants, the area of damage to the leaf surface, the proportion of damaged plants and the percentage of their height decrease during the winter period were calculated. The level of grain yield of winter wheat, depending on the predecessors, was investigated, and correlation-regression relationships between it and the factors influencing wintering were revealed. A close correlation has been proved between grain yield and the percentage of damaged winter wheat plants during the winter period and their height at the beginning of spring regrowth. It is shown that the most favorable conditions overwintered and the level of grain yield of winter wheat when grown after various types of leguminous perennial grasses is observed after the predecessor of meadow clover, where damage is observed by unfavorable conditions, only 16.7 % of the plants overwintered and their height at the time of the spring renewal of vegetation is 6 cm. This makes it possible to obtain a grain yield of winter wheat of 5.8 t/ha without the use of mineral fertilizers. The use of leguminous perennial grasses as precursors of winter wheat that develop over two to three years (meadow clover, white melilot, sand sainfoin) contributes to the formation of a significantly higher yield of winter wheat grain compared to predecessors of perennial legumes that vegetate for a long time period – five to eight years (horned lily, sowing alfalfa, eastern goat's rue). The yield of winter wheat after the predecessor of horned clover was the lowest – by 30.5% less than after the predecessor of meadow clover.

Influence of perennial legumes on the productivity of meadow phytocenoses

We investigated the effectiveness of soil liming during grass sowing and application of inoculation of perennial legume grass seeds with nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-mobilizing preparations. Methods. Field studies were conducted during 2016-2020 in the National Scientific Center "Institute of Farming of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine" (northern part of the Forest-steppe of Ukraine, Chabany settlement, Kiev-Svyatoshinsky district of Kyiv region). Area of the sowing plot was 30 m2, control plot - 25 m². Repetition of experience four times. Technology of cultivation of perennial grasses and their mixtures was generally accepted. Nitrogen fertilizers in the form of ammonium nitrate containing 34% of active substance, phosphorus as simple superphosphate (18.7%) and potassium as potassium chloride (60%) were applied annually in early spring according to the experimental scheme. Liming was carried out by the lime application under pre-sowing cultivation during perennial grass sowing in a dose of 5 t/ha. Seeds of perennial legume grasses were inoculated with the strains of nodule bacteria, according to the technological instructions, immediately before the sowing. Dry weight content was determined by thermostatic weight method at 105 °C. Green mass yield was accounted by weight method, by weighing with subsequent recalculation of yield from 1 ha of dry weight. Results. The productivity of monogenic sowings of perennial leguminous grasses and their mixtures with awnless bromegrass in the variant without fertilization varied within the range of 5.12-8.38 tons, which is 1.7-2.5 times higher compared to the cereal grass stand which was formed from monogenic sowings of awnless bromegrass, for the five years on the average and for the yield from 1 ha of dry weight. The highest productivity and the level of accumulation of symbiotic nitrogen (191-266 kg/ha) were obtained in agrocenoses with alfalfa and the lowest one - with meadow clover.

Psophocarpus tetragonolobus: An Underused Species with Multiple Potential Uses.

Natural products, particularly those extracted from plants, have been used as therapy for different diseases for thousands of years. The first written records on the plants used in natural medicine, referred to as “medicinal plants”, go back to about 2600 BC. A thorough and complete understanding of medicinal plants encompasses a multiplex of overlapping and integrated sciences such as botany, pharmacognosy, chemistry, enzymology and genetics. Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, a member of Fabaceae family also called winged bean, is a perennial herbaceous plant characterized by its tuberous roots and its winged pod twinning and a perennial legume rich in proteins, oils, vitamins and carbohydrates. Besides nutrients, winged bean also contains bioactive compounds that have therapeutic activities like anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antibacterial, antifungal, antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity, a few of which already been reported. This plant can also be used as a medicinal plant for future benefits. With this concept in mind, the present review is designed to shed the light on the interests in the various phytochemicals and pharmacological pharmacognostical aspects of Psophocarpus tetragonolobus.